The Government was today facing calls for the recall of Parliament amid claims
that the military mission in Libya had changed.

Barack Obama, David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy

11:20AM BST 15 Apr 2011

Conservative MP John Baron said that it was now clear that Britain and its allies were pursuing a policy of ''regime change'' in Libya.

His comments came after David Cameron, Barack Obama, and Nicolas Sarkozy issued a joint article saying it would be an ''unconscionable betrayal'' if Colonel Muammar Gaddafi was allowed to remain in power.

Mr Baron - who was the only Tory MP to vote against military action in Libya - said that was very different to the position set out by Mr Cameron when he made his statement to the Commons last month.

''I feel that mission in Libya has changed quite significantly. When it was put before the House, the emphasis was very much on humanitarian assistance. This has changed into a mission of regime change,'' he said.

''If one was being charitable one would say that this is mission creep. If one was being uncharitable, one would say this was always the underlying motive.''

With the Commons currently in recess for Easter and MPs not due to return to Westminster until April 26, his demand for a recall was backed by veteran Labour backbencher David Winnick.

''I think the situation is such that the Commons should have a statement before we're due to go back and I think it would be appropriate if we were recalled early next week,'' he said.

''I think there's growing unease over precisely what the situation is - but particularly how long it's going to last, the stalemate, and where it's leading. It's now very near regime change.

''However much we despise the murderous Gaddafi clan, and that includes his sons as well as the father, the fact remains that it's not currently possible under international law for regime change to take place.''

Tory MP Richard Ottaway, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said there was currently no need for the Commons to be recalled.

He said the joint article did not "take things any further" and was simply a "reiteration" of the original position.

He told the BBC News channel: "I think essentially this is a humanitarian mission and it is protection of the civilian population which is at the top of the order book. That has not altered.

"I think we should only be recalling Parliament if there is a change of policy and in all honesty I don't see a change in policy, I just see a reiteration of policy of where it was a month ago."

Mr Ottaway described the situation in Libya as a "stalemate" with "no obvious long-term conclusion".

He added: "The truth of the matter is, without further expansion of the UN resolutions, it's hard to see how we can get out of the stalemate situation that we're in at the moment."

Mr Baron said he has now written to Commons Speaker John Bercow formally requesting a recall of Parliament.

The demands for a recall were backed by Conservative MPs David Davis and Peter Bone.

Mr Davis said that the latest Government position went beyond the imposition of a no-fly zone approved by Parliament.

"The simple truth is that Parliament did not authorise the next phase," he told BBC Radio 4's The World At One.

"While I approve of the next phase - I think it is necessary, I think it is probably unavoidable, and I think that Cameron has done the right thing at every step so far - to go to the next phase he has to get parliamentary authority."

Mr Bone said that MPs were promised by ministers that they would have a chance to discuss the situation if the position on Libya changed.

"I think we should recall Parliament so that Parliament has its say about what the Government is saying. That is what we were promised in many speeches before we broke up," he said.

Labour left-winger Jeremy Corbyn said he was also writing the the Speaker requesting a recall.

"In view of the statement signed by the Prime Minister yesterday confirming that the military operation in Libya is linked to regime change there, I think it is a matter of such importance that Parliament should be recalled to debate the matter," he said.

"Britain and Nato are making a habit of wars with questionable legality or justification. The West seems to have no interest in a political solution and is prepared for a military campaign which now clearly focuses on regime change."